WWE makes wishes come true

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — For a brief time on Saturday, a group of families were on top of the world – almost quite literally — thanks to Make-A-Wish and World Wrestling Entertainment.

High above New York, on the 102nd floor of One World Observatory, the rebuilt tower at the site of the former World Trade Center, families of children facing some of life’s biggest hardships walked into the observatory and were greeted by not only a breathtaking view, but an audience of awaiting WWE superstars.

Inside awaited WWE stars Seth Rollins, Dolph Ziggler, Nikki Bella and AJ Styles, along with one of the company’s great ambassadors, Dana Warrior, the widow of the late Ultimate Warrior.

At first stunned and unsure, the kids, eight in all ranging in age from very young to late teen, were taken aback as they walked through the observatory and encountered their heroes. Hugs, tears, photos, smiles, more hugs and still more hugs followed.

It was the latest collaboration between WWE and Make-A-Wish, a relationship that dates several decades at this point.

“It starts at the top,” Sue Aitchison, director of community relations for WWE, said in an interview with Postmedia at the event. “Vince and Linda (McMahon). Linda used to do the wishes when the company first started,” Aitchison said.

Just eight months into 2017, Aitchison said WWE and its superstars have already granted 41 wishes for Make-A-Wish, and 92 overall this year with other wish agencies around the world.

"It’s beautiful honestly,” Rollins said. “Being up in the One World Observatory, on the 102nd floor, looking out over New York City and being able to hang out with the Make-A-Wish families. It just feels like a lot of love all around.

“For some Americans, I feel like this building, it’s really a tribute, a testament to America as whole, to our country and to the world as a whole, coming together after adversity, coming through and pushing out better on the other. That’s what these kids and these families are all about, dealing with adversity every single day and still putting a smile on and just moving forward."

Nikki Bella’s real-life fiancé, John Cena, has single-handedly granted every wish he’s every received, now at 600 and counting for Make-A-Wish alone.

"His heart is just truly so big and giving and caring and humble,” Nikki said. “With Make-A-Wish, this is something that he holds so dear to his heart. Whoever makes a wish, he grants it. And when you see it, when you these kids see John when he walks in the room, it makes me melt and it makes me emotional. He truly cares. I love that."

Styles said opportunities like the Make-A-Wish gatherings put life into perspective.

"There’s a lot of silly stuff going on in this country and in this world right now,” he said. “If you come here and you experience what it’s like to look into a kid’s eyes and know what they’ve been through, it changes your whole perspective on everything. This is what’s important."

Aitchison paid homage to the WWE stars for all they do behind the scenes.

"You know them (as wrestlers), and I know a different side of them,” she said, adding that the love the stars shower onto the kids is genuine and not contrived.

“Kids aren’t stupid. They know when someone’s paying them lip service and they know when somebody cares. And I never have a problem with our guys walking into the room. It’s very obvious they care."

By that measure, no one cares more than Cena, the longtime face of WWE and supporter of granting wishes.

"There isn’t a celebrity or any other (athlete) who has done as many," Aitchison said, adding that on top of the roughly 600 wishes granted through Make-A-Wish, he’s done countless others for other wish agencies around the world.

Ziggler marvelled at Cena’s efforts.

“Unreal,” he said. “Unreal,” he repeated, “because he doesn’t have to do any of them. He’s done it all in this business and he’s done it all outside the business. To have something that he still genuinely looks forward to — and I know he does because I do, too — it’s unreal.”

Nikki has experienced many of her fiance’s Make-A-Wish efforts, but her own as well.

"It’s so empowering,” she added. “And I remember all of their faces. Every single one."